[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17409-17410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08311]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-1219]


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on the following information collections. Comments are 
requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Commission, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for 
failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA 
that does not display a valid OMB control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before June 24, 
2019. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418-2991.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1219.
    Title: Connect America Fund-Alternative Connect America Cost Model 
Support.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 1,100 unique respondents; 
1,100 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours-2 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion and one-time reporting 
requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 47 
U.S.C. 151-154, 155, 201-206, 214, 218-220, 251, 252, 254, 256, 303(r), 
332, 403, 405, 410, and 1302.
    Total Annual Burden: 700 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: No Cost.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: We note that USAC must 
preserve the confidentiality of all data obtained from respondents; 
must not use the data except for purposes of administering the 
universal service programs; and must not disclose data in company-
specific

[[Page 17410]]

form unless directed to do so by the Commission.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is requesting approval for this 
revised collection. In March 2016, the Commission adopted significant 
reforms to place the universal service support program on solid footing 
for the next decade to preserve and advance voice and broadband service 
in areas served by rate-of-return carriers. Connect America Fund; ETC 
Annual Reports and Certifications; Establishing Just and Reasonable 
Rates for Local Exchange Carriers; Developing a Unified Intercarrier 
Compensation Regime, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 07-135, 05-337, 03-
109; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, Report and Order, Order and Order on 
Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 16-33 
(2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order).
    The Commission adopted a voluntary path for rate-of-return carriers 
to receive model-based support in exchange for making a commitment to 
deploy broadband-capable networks meeting certain service obligations 
to a pre-determined number of eligible locations in a state. By 
creating a voluntary pathway to model-based support, the Commission 
will spur new broadband deployment in rural areas. In several 
subsequent orders and public notices, the Commission has further 
refined this voluntary pathway, and in the December 2018 Rate-of-Return 
Reform Order, the Commission adopted a second pathway for carriers that 
did not elect the first pathway. Connect America Fund; ETC Annual 
Reports and Certifications; Establishing Just and Reasonable Rates for 
Local Exchange Carriers; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation 
Regime, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58, 07-135, 05-337, 03-109; CC Docket 
Nos. 01-92, Report and Order, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 
and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 18-176 (December 2018 Rate-of-Return 
Reform Order). Additionally, in the 2016 Rate-of-Return Reform Order, 
the Commission also adopted reforms to the universal service mechanisms 
used to determine support for rate-of-return carriers not electing 
model-based support. Among other such reforms, the Commission adopted 
an operating expense limitation to improve carriers' incentives to be 
prudent and efficient in their expenditures, a capital investment 
allowance to better target support to those areas with less broadband 
deployment, and broadband deployment obligations to promote 
``accountability from companies receiving support to ensure that public 
investment are used wisely to deliver intended results.'' In the 
December 2018 Rate-of-Return Order, the Commission further modified or, 
in the case of the capital investment allowance, eliminated these 
requirements. This information collection addresses the revised burdens 
associated with those reforms.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-08311 Filed 4-24-19; 8:45 am]
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